♪ ♪ red wine and ambien, you're talking it again, it's heartbreak warfare ♪ ♪ good to know it's all a game,

disappointment has a name, it's heartbreak, heartbreak ♪ ♪ it's heartbreak warfare ♪ yeah, it's heartbreak warfare ♪ ♪ >> that's the one and only john mayer in our studio. john, thank you very much. you're going to hear more music from john a little later on in the show. meanwhile, we're back with more of "today" on a thursday morning. it's the 19th day of november 2009. i'm matt lauer along with natalie morales out on the plaza. how are you doing? >> that's right, doing great. how about you? >> i'm doing fine. we've had kind of a big day today.

>> yeah. >> we had robert pattinson here from -- >> looking for some linger-oners here -- >> from "the twilight saga," and john mayer here. not a bad day to be -- oh, there's robert signing autographs. john kind of roamed the hall earlier as well. so, good day for fans of the "today" show. >> that's right. >> we've had a good time. >> that's right. meanwhile, coming up in this half hour, did you know that 24 million people in this country have diabetes, and how about this, 24% of those people don't even know they have it. so, we're going to have some of a discussion on that subject coming up in just a little while. >> all right. also some questions that we're going to answer, too, as well, everything from how to get through holiday parties and what to do about the seasonal swine flu shots as well. also ahead, of course, 'tis the season to go over the river and through the woods to grandma's house for thanksgiving and for the upcoming holidays. so, how do you make the trip a little more bearable for your kids and for parents, of course? we're going to have some secrets. and if you're looking for a way, perhaps, to cut down on your energy bill, we're going to show you some cutting-edge home

designs that just might be your future. we're going to show you the new solar houses to ways to lighten your energy load, coming up. all right, lots to get to. let's go inside right now. ann curry's at the news desk with all the headlines. hi, ann. >> hi, matt. thank you so much. good morning once again, everybody. in the news this morning, president obama now on his way back to washington from asia, said today that the u.s. and its allies have talked about new punitive steps from iran and how to get north korea to return to nuclear talks. obama said that he is sending an envoy to north korea for bilateral talks. before leaving south korea, obama visited u.s. troops and thanked them for their service. a suicide bomber killed at least 19 people today in northwestern pakistan. it is the latest in a series of attacks by islamic militants who are fighting back against an army offensive in the border region between afghanistan and pakistan. air travelers may see some big delays today, mainly on departures because of a nationwide computer problem affecting all the airlines.

the glitch has forced officials to process flights manually. aaa is predicting more than 38 million americans will travel at least 50 miles this thanksgiving. that's a 1.5% increase over last year. more travelers will drive, but fewer will go by air because of tight budgets, added charges and fewer flights. senate republicans are vowing to block health care legislation unveiled wednesday by majority leader harry reid. the long-awaited bill would cost $849 billion over ten years. more moderate democrats are also not on board, and senate debate is expected in the coming days. two teenagers have been arrested in minnesota for deliberately assaulting unsuspecting victims and posting a video of the crimes on youtube. police are looking for at least six other teens in the attacks. and a boy has just a few scratches after a dramatic rescue in thailand. the 8-year-old schoolboy was trying to retrieve a ruler when his head became stuck between a

cement wall and the floor. the boy was trapped for about an hour before rescuers were finally able to free him. aww. it is now four minutes past the hour. let's go back outside to matt and natalie. >> wow, that was hard to watch. >> thank goodness for that little boy. thank you, ann. let's get a check of the weather. al roker is at the newseum in washington, d.c. hey, al! >> hey, thanks, guys. >> we miss you. >> we are here -- well, we miss you, too. i'll see you tomorrow. and we are here at the newseum, as you mentioned, in a very special exhibit. it is a recreation of tim russert's office, and it is on display here until 2010. joining me is the ceo of the museum, mr. charles ogleby. >> welcome to the newseum, al. >> you have done a great job recreating tim's office and bringing a lot of memorabilia here. how did this come about? >> tim was such a great person and when he died it was like a head of state died. there was an outpouring of love for him, and the humanity of him is shown so well in this office.

>> that's right. and you've got some of tim's great memorabilia, including the famous or infamous white board -- "florida! florida! florida!" >> who could forget that? >> it was really amazing. where did this come from? >> this was the one he had, and he gave it to us right after. we went right to him because we knew it would be a historic board. >> and who knew he was a jelly belly fan? >> right, jelly belly in a starbucks cup and all these signed baseballs. >> wow. so, you have his personal side -- >> that's right. >> -- and his professional side. of course, the buffalo bills are obviously represented well here. >> when visitors are able to go into his office, they'll just see tim, the human, the great >> good morning. off and on rain showers will be with us through the afternoon, and even a slight chance of thunder today. temperatures will be mild. we are shooting for a high in th

>> and that's your latest weather. ann? >> announcer: "daily dose" is brought to you by multigrain cheerios cereal, because it tastes good. al, thanks. this morning on "today's daily dose," living with diabetes. november is national diabetes month. it's a disease that affects 24 million americans. nbc news' chief medical editor nancy snyderman is alongside howard steinberg, who's been living with diabetes for 40 years. he's the founder of "d-life," a tv show and online community for people with diabetes. good morning to both of you. >> good morning. >> we have a question from michelle in jupiter, florida. she asks -- "my daughter was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes this past june. while we are happy to see diabetes being discussed with

your segment, many people aren't clear that there is a significant difference between type 1 and type 2. please help explain." nancy. >> so, really fast, type 1 is usually the kind that we think of that affects children, that you're born with, there's a genetic link. usually, excess thirst, excess urination, exhaustion, sometimes infections. and type 2, we have classically thought of as an older person's diabetes, usually put with accompanying weight gain. but it's important to remember that these two things can be blurred. now you're looking at the symptoms of type 2 diabetes. blurred vision is a lot of times one of the first signs for people. but one usually has a real genetic component. the other is usually acquired. and that is as basic as we can get. >> but howard, if you've been living with this for 40 years, did you get this as a kid? >> yes. i was 10 years old and it came on with a bang. >> that's classic. that's classic. >> let's talk about the symptoms. the frequent urination for type

1, unusual thirst, extreme hunger, unusual weight loss, extreme fatigue and irritability -- >> and you'll know your child is sick. if any of those hit your kid, just asay, you know what, can yu check my child for diabetes? that's important for kids. >> just ask that. doctors may think it's something else and you really need to ask, howard? >> oh, absolutely. it's pretty easy to diagnose today. >> yeah. >> you give them a glucose tolerance test or there's an a1c test to determine if there's sugar in your blood, if you've got it. >> and type 2, the number one symptom is frequent infections, blurred vision, cuts or bruises slow to heal, tingling or numbness in the hands or feet and recurring skin, gum or bladder infections. >> and if you're a woman over 30 inches, man over 40, you're susceptible to type 2. >> and it's typically onset, but what's scary is we're seeing it in children now. the rate of type 2 in kids has tripled in recent years, and that's just a function of obesity and the environment. >> so, get diagnosed, ask the questions.

we'll go to laurie in delaware, ohio, and she's on the telephone with a question. go ahead, laurie. >> caller: good morning. >> good morning. >> caller: i am 50 years old with type 2 diabetes that is under good control. i have received the seasonal flu vaccine and wonder if i should get the h1n1 vaccine, or because of my age, am i not considered at risk? >> what do you think, nancy? >> it's a great question. diabetes is a lot like asthma. excuse me. it is a pre-existing condition, puts your immune system at risk. yes, get your vaccine. >> and it can play havoc, having the flu and having serious flu can play havoc with your blood sugar for many days. so it's important to be vaccinated. >> all right. we've got a question that's kind of related regarding the holiday season, with lily from cleveland, ohio. she sent an e-mail, saying basically, "with the holidays coming up, i have a bunch of parties to go to. which drinks have the least amount of sugar?" howard? >> that's a good one for you. >> yeah, i've certainly experienced. it it's best -- first of all,

avoid the sweet mixed drinks with the heavy mixers -- >> the margaritas. >> cocktails. stick to a dry light wine or a beer low in carbohydrates. and it's okay to have a couple of drinks. you shouldn't deprive yourself. >> what about eating at this time? clearly, there are a lot of sugars. it must be difficult. >> oh, the banquet table at thanksgiving is loaded with that stuff from sweet potatoes and stuffing to pecan pie. again, diabetics shouldn't deprive themselves, but come in with a game plan. think ahead before you get to the table or even before you travel and think about how you're going to approach it, and give yourself a budget, a budget of carbohydrates, because that's what's going to raise the blood sugar. >> it wasn't too long ago we used to tell kids, don't touch any of this, you can't do this or that, and it was so rigid that nobody could stay on it. now it's about moderation and making smart choices. >> what's interesting, though, is a lot of these suggestions you're making are better health suggestions for anybody. >> absolutely. >> so, even though it must be such a tedious thing, what you're really doing is focusing and taking care and managing your health, and there's a real positive in that. >> absolutely. if you live the right diabetes

lifestyle, you've got a good chance of avoiding those devastating complications long term. so, when you come to the dinner table, fill up on those proteins and veggies first so you're not tempted to fill your, seichate yourself with those, the wrong things to eat. >> and to help you do that, there are a bunch of new devices, little gabqu. >> this is the big, big future, the cool stuff. >> show us. that's great. >> we're going mobile. our society is going mobile and there's all kinds of things that are helping you do that. and diabetes, you know, even though we're celebrating diabetes month, it's a 24/7/365-day lifestyle. so you need things that will help you do it every day. some of the new technologies are -- you have to test your blood sugar all the time in diabetes so that you know where it is and what you have to do. and so, there's some new things like continuous blood glucose monitoring. you wear a sensor. i'm wearing one here, and i get a reading on a constant screen throughout the day so i know what to do. same thing with insulin delivery. you don't necessarily have to inject insulin multiple times a day.

there's now devices where you can wear a pod on your body, and the device -- and a wireless device tells it what to do. >> right. >> and of course, we're moving to mobile telephones. everything's going to be in your iphone. >> your iphone some day will be able to check your blood glucose through your skin, tell you what's going on and deliver your insulin. >> thank you so much. >> and help you manage your lifestyle. >> howard and dr. nancy, as always, thank you very much. there's lots more to come. hey bets, can i borrow a quarter? sure, still not dry? i'm trying to shrink them. i lost weight and now some clothes are too big. how did you do it? simple stuff. eating right and i switched to whole grain. whole grain... studies show that people who eat more whole grain tend to have a healthier body weight. multigrain cheerios has five whole grains... and 110 calories per lightly sweetened serving. more grains. less you. multigrain cheerios.

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>> announcer: "today's moms" is brought to you by walmart. save money. live better. walmart. this morning on "today's moms," traveling with your kids. with the holiday travel season right around the corner, you're probably trying to figure out some sanity-saving tips before hitting the road with the little ones. ♪ vacation, all i ever wanted >> reporter: when it comes to traveling with children, hollywood got it right. >> what smells in here? russ, russ, your feet. >> reporter: so, we asked our viewers to share their secrets for making travel more enjoyable. ♪ on the road again >> back seat of the car is her domain. we let her bring extra stuffed animals, dvd player, water bottles and a bag of favorite snacks. she lays out what she needs before we leave the driveway. ♪ had to catch an early train

>> if i could kiss the ipod creator that enhanced the ipod with video, i would. the ipod is like amex in our house -- never leave home without. ♪ truckin off to buffalo >> we allow them to pick one snack from their bag every 45 minutes to an hour. we pack healthy snacks to keep them from getting sugar highs. ♪ traveling along, there's a song that we're singing ♪ >> create a picture book of the trip. collect postcards, brochures, ticket stubs, and have the kids make their own scrapbooks on the way home from the trip. ♪ we'll make you happy >> and thanks to all those viewers who sent in those great tips. i'm here with valerie delia, a travel journalist and creator of travelwithval.com. val, good morning. >> natalie, it almost makes me want to have a kid! >> well, those of us who do have them, we know what it's like when you travel with them. you kind of go insane. >> yes. >> and a trip most people are traveling to their destinations this year. >> it's usually 80% of the people who drive. and this year when you are driving, there are going to be

fewer rest stops because they're cutting back on budgets across the country. so, you need to find another way for kids to blow off steam. so, why not go to a children's museum? they are all over the country, and there is an association of them. i just visited one in rochester, new york, where the national toy museum is, where they induct all the classic toys -- >> wow, that sounds like heaven. >> it is heaven. so, they have a lot of interactive exhibits, even a butterfly garden. but they're all over the country, museums like this. and there are also playgrounds -- >> parks. good places to plan your stops, as you say, is your first pointer. >> yes. >> now, if you're flying with the kids, you suggest also navigating the airports before you travel, right? >> yeah. there's a lot of adult activities there like celebrity restaurants, designer shops, but you want to find kid-friendly features. so, go online to ifly.com. it's a website that will map out the airport for you. for instance, jfk terminal 4 has arcade games in the arrivals level. >> terminal 4. >> yes. >> note to self. okay. >> seasonal activities -- santa

comes to visit. there are concerts. so, there's also places that you can find other things for kids to do, lots at the airports. >> now, what about airlines themselves, what are some friendly, family-friendly airlines? >> all right. southwest airlines has infant fares. you know how infants under 2 go for free on your lap? let's say that you don't want to do that and you want to have them next to you. well, you don't have to pay a full fare. then there's jetblue. they have those videos on the seat back, that satellite system. >> right. >> that's fantastic for older kids. and american airlines has changing tables in their wide-body aircraft lavatories. >> i can't stand when they don't have a changing table. that's a pet peeve of mine. and you say travel train. that's one of the best ways to go. >> it is. it's family-friendly, they have a lot of leg room, generous luggage allotments and wonderful, huge windows to watch the passing scenery, and there's ample bathrooms as well. >> all right. valerie delia, more of your travel pointers, by the way, on

our website, todayshow.com. so, some great family-friendly suggestions there as well. thank you. >> you're welcome. coming up next, the house you might be looking for the next time you're on the hunt. we're going to show you. with amazing new specials every week this holiday season. the great deals start each saturday. this week, from saturday 8 a.m. thru friday, you can get a free $100 walmart gift card with the purchase of any blackberry find out about more weekly specials at walmart.com and make the most of your holiday. christmas costs less at walmart. save money. live better. walmart. of maxwell house's flavor lock lid. hear that? seals it tight. smells like fresh ground. fresh fresh fresh fre-- that's our favorite part. ...fresh! (announcer) taste why maxwell house is good to the last drop.

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then we will all do it together. treats! teets... teets... teets! yeah! look at this! oh! it seems like the best family traditions... you want some? always start in the kitchen. ( laughter, conversation ) rice krispies. happy thanksgiving. your walgreens pharmacist also dispenses wisdom... to help you make the right health care decisions. like understanding medicare part d. we'll walk you through a free plan comparison report... to guide you to the most cost-effective... and comprehensive plan, whether you're new to medicare part d... or you've been covered for a while. so stop in and stay well. cheese! walgreens. there's a way to stay well.

>> announcer: "live smart today" is brought to you by ge. ijs at work. this morning on "live smart today," the house of tomorrow today. homeowners are looking for new ways to create high-tech houses and save energy, so let's take a tour of the next generation of solar-powered smart houses. >> up and at em, mr. j. >> reporter: the jetsons are the model for what we dreamed our houses would look like, futuristic furniture, space-age appliances and probably one heck of an electric bill. the smart houses of tomorrow are taking energy efficiency seriously. at the u.s. department of energy's recent solar decathlon, universities from around the world competed to fuse solar energy with intelligent design. >> one of the greatest things of our design was to integrate all technical systems and solar developments into the overall

architectural design. >> reporter: a house made almost entirely of panels is one way to lower energy costs, but each house here emphasizes other ways to be environmentally friendly. >> the cheapest energy is the energy you don't use. so, if you can reduce your loads, make your house more efficient, then you're saving money and you're helping the planet. >> instead of having complicated, expensive technologies that are likely to break, what you do is simplify it down into pieces that you can use yourself. >> reporter: windows that actually absorb sunlight and use it to heat the house. >> there's no moving parts. there's no mechanical system. you put the glass in and you let the glass heat your house. >> reporter: team kentucky cools their house with self-tinting windows. a weather-predicting system allows the house to adapt to outside temperatures. and a control system puts everything in the hands of the homeowners. >> when users know where their energy's going and what they're using, it allows them to partner with their home and make decisions about how they might be able to change their daily lives to save a little bit of energy. >> reporter: some houses save

space and move walls at the touch of a button. others recycle water back into the environment. rice university takes a low-tech approach, using energy star appliances and solar panels to zero out energy costs. a compact design keeps the price so low that it could be mass produced for $80,000. >> i found rosie and i brought her back home to stay. >> reporter: so, maybe this generation of smart houses don't come with their own rosie the robot, but they are packed with enough green power to jet us into the future. >> i'd like that little thing to drive. >> interesting. >> anyway, coming up, from the house, the thanksgiving table. some creative ideas. in healthcare advancements cancer detection medical records, health for more people. means never forgetting is everything. is happening. right now.

e e e e holi. and some foods mean gas. take beano before you eat to prevent gas 0r take a gas reliever after you get gas and bloat up like a cartoon character floating over 5th avenue. take beano before, and there'll be no gas. is the parade on? >> live, local, latebreaking. this is wbal-tv 11 news today in baltimore. >> good morning. i am mindy basara. baltimore county police have identified two men shot inside a

baltimore county convenience store to it just after 7:00 tuesday night, there robbed the store at the 700 block of catonsville and shot the store's owner. and the customer. the customer died at the scene. anyone with information on the shooting to call baltimore county police. as baltimore city police continue to track down suspects in a series of sexual assaults and rapes in baltimore, there also working to ease concerns in baltimore city but they are increasing foot patrols and handing out flyers and setting up a potential task force. the hope that sketches of two of the suspects might lead to a break in the case. while many of the attacks happened at or near a bus stop, they have dna evidence that proves the attacks are not connected. there will be a town hall meeting tonight that begins at 6:00 p.m. at the knox

presbyterian church at 1500 north eden st.. let's look at the forecast with tony pann. >> off and on with showers with us through the evening. the could be thunder through the afternoon. even though it will be granting most the time, a burger fifties to around 60 degrees. -- rating was the time, upper 50s to around 60 degrees. low temperatures dropping back into the upper 40's to route 50. seven-day forecast clearing up into the weekend. clouds early on friday. saturday and sunday look nice. 59 on sunday. the next chance for rain on sunday night. >> we will have another update at 9:55.

♪ i'm gonna find some way to make it without you, tonight i'm gonna find a way to make it without you ♪

♪ that's alicia keys, who burst on the scene eight years ago at the age of just 19 years old. she actually has not stopped turning out hits since, and she's going to be here for a live concert tuesday on "today." and you know, that's not all, because we've got three blockbusters in a row next week. on monday, "britain's got talent" sensation susan boyle will be performing on the plaza, and on wednesday, as you're seeing there, rock and roll superstars bon jovi are going to be taking us into the weekend. so, we've got a lot of music. >> we love our jobs, right? >> we're very, very lucky. >> very good. >> but we're grateful to be able to give this music to all of you. and speaking of loving something, a lot of us love thanksgiving. >> yes. >> and a lot of us don't know how to set a pretty table. we'll get some simple and not too expensive ideas that will give your home that earthy, warm feeling, courtesy of design superstar colin cowey. >> if anyone can do it, he can.

the tables upstairs are gorgeous. if you have little ones at home, you're probably wrestling with the decision whether or not to vaccinate your children with the h1n1 vaccine. this morning we'll meet two families who are making difficult choices. and later, the results of "today's" ambush makeover. you know the team is on the road this week, and they landed in granby, massachusetts, where they surprised 64-year-old susie slater, who described herself as a frumpy hippie. so, we're going to meet the new susie and see if there's been some major improvement there. how's it looking there, louis? i don't think he can hear us. >> oh, it's looking great. no, i can, actually. >> okay. we can't wait to see the results. we'll stand by for that later on. >> it's so pretty, i can't even begin to tell you. >> yay! good. >> okay, but before all that, let's go down to washington with al, who's actually been in the newseum, where there's a very special exhibit. hey, al. >> that's right. it's inside tim russert's office. but right now, we are here at the nbc interactive newsroom.

and behind me, the kids get to work on their reporting skills. so, we've got kind of a future matt and a future al there, getting ready to do the weather. back behind this gentleman -- sir, if you could just kind of move over that way a little bit, you could see a future meredith or ann working out, getting their stuff together. so, pretty exciting. you bring the family down. everybody can work out -- look, he's doing the weather. wait a minute, i don't like that. a future me? taking me, taking my job? i'll drop that kid, i mean. it that's jamani, clayton, and over there is hannah. let's check your weather, see what's going on. for today, looking ahead to the weekend, sunshine up and down the eastern seaboard, heavy rain down along the gulf coast, more rain and wind in the pacific northwest with mountain snows. then on sunday, sunday, sunny and cool in the northeast, showers around the western great lakes, more rain and snow in the pacific northwest, sunny and mild from texas all the way >> off and on rainshowers with

us through the evening. evening commute will be wet as a culprit shooting for a high of around 58 degrees. 55 in >> these kids are pretty good. all right. so, if we get too much -- give jim bell or mark victor too many problems, we've got our replacements right there, guys. >> all right, thanks. >> all right, al, thank you so much. actor kim chung is making a big name for himself as a scene-stealer in "knocked up" and "the hangover." and now in "community," he plays senior chang, a very inappropriate spanish professor.

today we'll get a glimpse of his softer side. [ speaking spanish ] >> um, hello. >> so, you don't speak spanish, but you're a spanish professor. >> it truly is acting, so -- >> but we remember when we watched "knocked up" and also -- >> "the hangover." hilarious. >> "the hangover." you've made a name for yourself playing inappropriate people. is there something about you we don't know or should know? >> after seeing me in "hangover," there really is nothing else to know. >> coming out of the trunk. >> that was your true side? >> that was my true side, and my naked side as well. >> that was all sides of ken. >> all sides. all sides. >> tell us about this program you have on tonight. there is a softer side to your character. >> yes, yes. tonight's episode on "community," you get to see kind of what makes senior chang tick, and joe mchale's character, jeff winger, kind of figures that out, and so, we become unlikely bffs. >> what a cast you get to work with, i mean, joe mchale -- >> yes. chevy chase.

>> chevy chase. >> yes. >> you must be having the time of your life working with this group. >> it's the best cast top to bottom. having the time of my life right now. so much fun. >> it's so fun to watch. and all the actors, there seems to be a -- you feel as though you're eavesdropping watching it. there's not a sense that it's all in a studio and organized. >> right. >> it feels very free. >> yeah, no. >> is the work free, like very linear or does it become creative? >> we have a tight script, beautifully written, but we also have the luxury of improvising, so, it's the best of both worlds. you get great writing, and then on top of that, they really do allow us to improvise. so -- >> it's only with talent, really great talent that you can allow them to improvise. so, congratulations on all that. >> thank you so much. i appreciate all that. >> we should tell everyone that you can watch "community" tonight at 8:00/7:00 central time here on nbc. congratulations. >> ken, nice to meet you. >> i appreciate it. thank you for not quizzing me in spanish. >> i was going there. i was going to. but i left that to ann. anyway, coming up next, the question of giving your kids the swine flu vaccine. into a whole.

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♪ time now for our "class of 2020" series on the group of students we've been following

from their first year in kindergarten to their high school graduation. and this morning, the nationwide debate over the h1n1 flu virus. a new national survey shows almost half of americans are choosing not to get the vaccine, and parents are weighing the pros and cons to decide what is best for their children. >> are you ready for this? >> reporter: zachary and his mom deborah are spending their saturday morning at a hospital. zach isn't sick. deborah wants zach and his two brothers to get the h1n1 flu vaccine before supplies run out. >> and you're choosing to get vaccines for all of your children today? >> yes. yes. >> reporter: according to the centers for disease control, 7-year-old zach and his two brothers fall within the high-risk category because of their age. >> every time i call the flu hotline clinic, they said that supplies were limited, so, i felt a little bit of pressure to get in there right away. >> some truly worrisome numbers out today on swine flu. >> reporter: from los angeles to the nation's capital, images of long lines and reports of limited supplies are dominating

the coverage of the h1n1 flu virus. >> how are you guys doing? >> reporter: since their two children were born, mike and joanne have done their own research and decided not to vaccinate 5-year-old kylie and 7-year-old kanan. >> what's your favorite food? >> reporter: instead, kanan and his sister maintain a well-balanced diet with very little processed foods and take natural herbs and minerals like echinacea and zinc to boost their immune systems. since they've made their decision, joanne and mike have taken a lot of heat from family and friends. >> joanne, joanne, you have to vaccinate, you know, you're being a bad mom. and it tugs at my heartstrings, but this was the best decision for our family. >> we just did a lot of research, a lot of reading, and there's so much data out there that concerns me, and a lot of what vaccines are made out of, a lot of the toxic elements that are actually in vaccines. >> reporter: the family's doctor supports their decision to forego vaccinations and encourages all of his patients

to be informed before they make a decision. >> what they usually ask me is what do i believe. and belief to me is an origious connotation, and when it comes to medicine, i don't want to believe. i want to look at the facts and let the facts move me one way or the other. >> reporter: despite repeated assurances that the vaccine is safe, it is pervasive across the nation as parents question whether it was tested enough before the rush to production. >> there is no question that this vaccine and these types of vaccines have an extraordinarily good track record of safety. we encourage the parents to reconsider if they're deciding that they don't want their children to be vaccinated. >> don't move, okay? very important. don't move. almost done. there you go. >> reporter: zach's mom is aware of the concern surrounding the flu vaccine, and she respects the decision of other parents who don't want to vaccinate their children. >> i'm really open-minded, and yes, i did look into it and i did do some research, and i listened to what my friends tell me, but in the end, i did decide

to do the flu vaccine. >> reporter: two families making two different and difficult choices to do what they feel is best for their kids. and you can see more of zach and kanan and the rest of the class of 2020 along with all their stories since kindergarten at todayshow.com. coming up next, doing up your thanksgiving table right with decor expert colin cowey, right after this. ♪ that's why there are eight delicious kinds... of special k® cereal. ♪ because every girl could use a little variety. ♪ special k® -- now in eight delicious flavors. than any other automaker. hey, ken. hey, ken. hey, kenny. hey, ken.

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♪ simply wholesome ingredients and nothing more." this morning in "today's home," thanksgiving day table settings. whatever your taste, if you'd rather spend your money on the food rather than the decor, you should be talking to colin

cowie, which is why we're talking to him this morning, because colin is an interior designer and columnist with "viv" magazine. he's also budget-conscious. good morning. >> good morning. >> i'm so glad you're here. this is one of the things so many of us are worst at. you can make a great pie or a thanksgiving turkey. you may not be so great at decorating, but you're great at it. >> i love it, and if you're going to entertain, this is one of my favorite holidays of the year. and to sit with your family and friends for a couple of hours, if you really love them, make a beautiful table. >> so, you have basic ideas to get started. >> let's take for granted that each of the three tables, everyone's got a water glass, wine glass and a basic set of china. in this setting, my inspiration came from nature, so the idea of pears. we used this throughout. this is a table runner we found from crate and barrel. >> so we'll hold that up when the camera comes to it. basically, this is what you're describing as your harvest table. >> right. this is real easy to do. the great thing about today's

centerpiece becomes tomorrow's fruit salad. i also love the idea of being able to personalize the table. so, we've brought these little boxes. the idea of putting someone's name at a place setting, when you're having 10 or 12 people, it balances the energy at the table rather than using it from a formality point of view. it takes away the stress. >> and it's also fun. it makes you feel special in that seat. >> this is a box of dollop. we put a note inside and a chocolate -- >> oh, look at that. this is yours. do i have one for me? >> one for each person. >> this one's for joey -- >> joey. >> a producer of our segment. we're going to open that up and there's a sweet chocolate, then there's a note which i'm going to look at. oh, "we're so thankful to have you in our lives." a thanksgiving note. >> or a long-winded one. "thank you for making a short toast this year." >> that's a sweet way to send a message. i'll let that go to joey. that's great. >> we always love candles. this is $6. >> the whole price for this

would be? >> less than $100 for the whole table, for four place settings. >> four people. under $100. >> and the centerpiece. >> moving into an urban chic kind of a look. it looks kind of bachelorish. >> and the idea is because it's about the sum of the pieces. so, let's start with the centerpiece. i've used carnations, which seems to be america's least favorite and least expensive flower. >> and they don't look like something you wouldn't like. they look beautiful. >> just the heads of them when i put them together with a rubber band, it gives you an idea of one big lower. >> so you choose a color you love and mix them together with a rubber band. >> the vase was $2. so, some double-sided tape on the edge of the vase. i'm just going to run this around like this. i put less than $5 of ribbon. >> you cut the ribbon. >> you cut the ribbon. >> oh, nice. >> how easy it is to do that. >> pretty. >> take that, pop it inside of there with a bit of water. >> and you don't need that many of those for the table. >> no, you don't. in fact, for this table, i've got less than $12 of carnations on the whole table.

>> so, what you've done is used the same white plates here. >> the same white plate. i found this bowl for $1 at walmart. >> these bowls. >> and then the centerpiece really is about the sum of the parts. so, these wooden blocks cost anywhere from $2 to $5 apiece. we've got less than $15 of flowers on the table. we've just used ribbon and candles. to give it a fall, autumn national look, the idea of using the nuts. see how the nut became the place holder over here. >> ee see. how did you cut into that? >> just a little hack saw. >> oh, my goodness. >> i've got fingers left, fortunately. >> fingers are all okay. >> so, this worked out to $62 for the table. >> for four people. >> for four people. so, obviously, if it's a long table, a banquet table, do the multiples there of. >> now for the really glam look. sparkly. >> this is the glitz and glam table. >> you feel like -- now, okay, some people might ask, do you really want to put this large of a branch on the table? >> you know, i didn't have anything next to my neighbor since i lived in the city, but

this is a manzanita branch. manzanita can be expensive, but you can find comfortable branches and things. a dusting of glitter on the centerpiece. and these candles. the candles are placed on birch blocks, which are $1 apiece. we found these, and the votive candles themselves were $1 at target. >> and these beautiful napkin holders. >> amazing. aren't they gorgeous? i think this is like jewelry for the table. look how beautiful that is. once again, we have our name tag. these and the placemats, these were $4 apiece. >> so the entire price for this table? >> $150. now, you could do that a whole lot less expensive if you didn't do the manzanita branch and you found something in your neighbor's garden. that would be the ultimate bargain. and when you look at the three tables, the great thing is these could be done two, three days in advance, because nothing's going to fall apart. so the day of, you can concentrate on your food and guests. >> very good idea. very smart. set it up and then worry about the food. colin cowie, i want to come to your house for dinner.

it would be so beautiful, and fun. >> any time. >> we have much more, including the ambush makeover reveal. first, this is "today" on nbc.

still to come, hoda is here with a whole other hour. >> our ambush hits the road will wrap up today in granby, massachusetts. we surprised a lucky lady. her hair is down her back. come on in. >> here she is. >> we're talking about massachusetts ambush. >> the bowels of the earth down there. what's going on? >> are you okay? >> hey. you have a beautiful voice. >> thank you. >> john mayer. >> john mayer with one more song. >> first, your local news and weather.

>> live, local, latebreaking. this is wbal-tv 11 news today in baltimore. >> good morning. i am mindy basara. after a surprisingly brief defense, the felony theft case against baltimore mayor sheila dixon could go to the jury as early as this afternoon. the defense chose not to put the mayor on the stand and climbed up the kisses all but developer ronald lipscomb and his relationship with the mayor. the verdict could come as early as this afternoon or tomorrow. stay with wbal-tv and wbaltv.com for live updates.

>> welcome back. often on rainshowers are going to be with us through the day today. there will be a thunderstorms through the afternoon. things will clear up as we head into the weekend. >>